The Billington brothers: two Princetonians talk about the humanities, innovation and the future of America

David and James Billington had a fascinating public discussion recently about the humanities, engineering, and the future of America.

Two years apart in age, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and his older brother, the legendary Princeton engineering professorDavid P. Billington, both graduated from Princeton in 1950 (David having spent a yearlong stint as a Navy technician and James having skipped an academic year forward).

During the discussion, hosted by the Kansas City Public Library, the brothers reminisced that their father measured his wealth by books.

"In terms of happiness and satisfaction and just a good life, generally, it wasn’t economic status, it wasn’t ethnic origin, or any of these things," said David Bilington. " … It was whether or not you were brought up in the proximity of books."

Read more in this account by Rachael Herndon in the University News or watch part of the conversation here (warning: audio quality is less than perfect).